how do you ladies take such fabulous pictures?

I love flipping through the flickr albums of classy, sophisticated transgender women. But I find myself asking, "How on earth are these ladies capturing such great photos?" At the airport, outside, in the mall, at home, the list goes on. 10 second timers just don't work for me - too much rushing.

What is your digital camera setup at home and away from home? Is there a such thing as a nice compact point-and-shoot camera with a remote control? What camera are you using? Are you using slim, portable tripods during your trips? Or, do you just ask a stranger to take your photo? I did that in the airport recently, but was less than satisfied with the result. I want to become adept at documenting my experiences, in order to monitor my own progress and to grade myself!

Thanks in advance, and Happy New Year!



Kameryn

I seriously think that they are just beautiful women plain and simple. If you used a crappy 1970's polaroid camera on a hot male or female they'd still look quite lovely.

On the other hand, camera technology is great now. You can have the tiniest camera capture pretty high resolution and color.

I am constantly impressed by the members of this site. Some people here are so damn beautiful.
If I looked like that I would likely exist as a female at all times.

It's quite simple, really.

1. Take a picture
2. Don't like it
3. Take another picture

Repeat as necessary until the stars align, the planets sing, and children dance hand-in-hand (or at least until you find one that doesn't make you look like you've been run over multiple times).

As I said, simple, right?

:)

Kathi

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mrogredick

I am constantly impressed by the members of this site. Some people here are so damn beautiful.
If I looked like that I would likely exist as a female at all times.

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I agree there are some really beautiful women on this site...both inside and out. I aspire to be one of them, too.

If you're taking them at home I agree with Kathy. Just keep taking them until you get one that looks ok. I use a tripod and I do use a timer. Our camera lets you set how long it waits so if you want more that 10 secs you can have that. However, I gotta be honest, I don't use the timer that much because I'm lucky enough to have a supportive wife who usually volunteers to be my photographer, both at home and when we are out in public.

Yer just take photos till one comes up that doesn't look to bad,I just sometimes take the camera when going out,some times i get people passing buy and they take the Pics.even on the best days my photos don't came out nice,but who cares.

Practice, practice, practice!:D

Taking better shots takes practice. You just have to learn. Digital makes it easier because you can shoot as much as you like.
About taking pictures around shopping malls etc., to get a good shot consistently, the trick is focus. Your camera will autofocus on whatever when you push the shutter, when you
move to get into the shot good chance you're not the same distance as what got focused on. I would guess that most of the really good shots of girls out and about were shot by a friend.
Its really hard to get everything pointed in the right direction, focused, angled correctly without a few test shots. That takes time and is conspicuous. I do not like to be that conspicuous when I am out. Go to my flickr page. I just took a few outside in the cold and this is a busy street. If someone else is taking the shot it is just so much easier to notice stuff like shadows.
and can get a sharper focus if you can point the focus point right on your eyes.
Hugs, Christine

i just use my imac :p

eventually id like to have professional photos done

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kathi Lake

It's quite simple, really.

1. Take a picture
2. Don't like it
3. Take another picture

Repeat as necessary until the stars align, the planets sing, and children dance hand-in-hand (or at least until you find one that doesn't make you look like you've been run over multiple times).

As I said, simple, right?

:)

Kathi

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Still looking for one that does not make me look like the pivot point of an amtrack battalion!

Take 100 pics 1 has to be good. Or learn to use photo shop. Disclaimer I look better in pics then in person.

I have my girlfriend take them and help me figure out a pose too! :)

The secrets to self photographing are well... not all that secret...

1. Get a tripod
2. Get lots and lots of light, every spare lamp you have
3. Have plenty of spare time
4. Pick up a HD Video thingy - I just bought a HD Sony Bloggie for about $150, this cuts out all the nonsense as you just film everything then take grabs of the best bits and because it's HD well... You get great quality images
5. As Chrstine55 mentions above, look directly at the lens
6. Lots of spare time... oh yeah I already said that

Share and enjoy

Forgot to say

7. Stand very still


Panda xx

1. practice practice practice. 2. find a good photographer friend who is understanding. they think of the coolest poses that, let's just say, are the most flattering of looks. lol. :) 3. once you've got the poses down, try to get a camera with a remote, so you can rinse and repeat #1. practice practice practice

Whenever I get a pic I like,three things are always consistent ,the lighting is adequate,the distance between the subject and camera is right and then the color of the clothing and makeup work for that shot.

Thank you for asking the question, Kameryn. I've wondered the same thing, many times. I may have misunderstood your question, but, I took it differently from some others. I thought you were asking about the setup, not how to get a good looking result.

From many of the responses, it seems that most rely on a tripod and timer (or remote.) That's fine at home where you have the time and space to set the conditions up the way you wish. Kathi and Panda addressed that very well. Use software to you clean up the photo and you'll be in good shape.

But, location shots seem to be quite a challenge, especially if you are in a busy area and aren't attempting to draw lots of attention to yourself. I've tried doing that with a mini tripod (about 8" tall) that can be set on top of walls or other objects for some quick shots. It works, but, I haven't had results with which I'm satisfied, yet, as I only take a few and then move on to another location before the crowd of curious onlookers builds. (I get nervous when they distribute the torches, rakes, and pitchforks. Lol)

It seems that many people have someone else take the photo for them. That must be great. Whenever I've had the camera with me, I've been alone. I haven't had the confidence to ask a passerby to take it, yet.

I guess we just keep trying until we find a method that works.

Personally I hire a female stunt double to wear my clothes and I take photos of her... Yeah its a little expensive but the results are awesome!! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by panda

4. Pick up a HD Video thingy - I just bought a HD Sony Bloggie for about $150, this cuts out all the nonsense as you just film everything then take grabs of the best bits and because it's HD well... You get great quality images
...
7. Stand very still

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These two are my favorites... would be nice to have a photographer, maybe sometime though (fingers crossed)!

And should you not have a tripod (or use your phone like I usually do), a stack of books or a shelf works alright, just be careful when hitting the camera button not to jiggle it off where you center it! Recording then grabbing screen shots solves this by letting you set up even while recording, and tweak it every 30 seconds or so to find that perfect angle.

Although thanks to this method I have about an hour of myself posing that nobody is ever going to see!.. unless I forget to empty my recycle bin.

Good luck!
-Celes

I'll tell you this Kameryn, a lot of us cannot take afford stunt doubles or have enough time left in our decaying bodies to wait until the stars alighn. So what I do in order to take photos that I think are acceptable enough of myself to show in public is to follow two simple rules:
1) Always leave the lens cover on
2) Always take the picture in a dark room with-out a flash

And like others have said.... practice, practice practice. I didn't do this at first and actually had some turn out where you could see me :eek:

A lot of good replies from the gals...

I use a tripod and have a self timer that I can set for 2 pictures. Usually I miss the first shot as you said "10 seconds is not enough". Then I take a look at the pose on the second shot and start over knowing how I need to readjust. Like Niya said take a bunch and one of them has to come out good :)

[SIZE=4]At home I actually use fairly old digital technology, a Sony that records on 3 inch dvds. I use a tripod and 10 second delay or a hand held remote on a 5 foot cable. Of the 300 shots I may take, 20 end up on my flicker site or on my web page.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]For remote locations I usually take a small tripod that is about 12 inches tall and do a few dry runs before I jump in the picture. I use a small 10 megapixel digital for that.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Practice as much as possible and always smile..[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]

Whoa! That's NOT ME!:brolleyes:

But, I DO get a good pic now and then! Here's how:

1. Take hundreds, or even thousands, of pics in just seconds! Using a camcorder! And, it works BETTER IF U MOVE AROUND! Pick out the individual frames u like at home!:D
My avatar is a camcorder frame!

2. If u use a 10 second timer, step off to the side after u press the shutter! Then, step back into camera view at the depth u want to take the photo. That way, the camera focuses properly!:thumbsup:

3. I've found strangers to be very accomodating when asked to take my picture. Even when I'm wearing a mask!:eek:

My new Sony HD camcorder also takes pretty decent pictures and has a remote. the new ones are pretty tiny. I use either a large tripod at home or a mini one when I'm out. At home I also find putting a full length mirror in front of me, right beside the tripod, helps me pose better. Outdoor lighting is usually more kind than a flash. And always clean the exposure and mistakes in the picture with some sort of photoshop program!

If your out and about and don't have a tri-pod I have taken a Knee kigh nylon stocking filled the foot part with bird seed tied it off, cut it and carry it in my purse -- not too big or heavy. It conforms to uneven surfaces and cradels the camra very steady for taking timer pics

I have my wife take my pictures normally. She has a fair eye for taking pictures; lighting, poses, background, etc. It helps to have a loving mate who aids in my cd-ing!!

Mackenzie

These have all been mentioned above, but to me the most important things are:
- tripod
- shutter timer
- good lighting
- smile
- take lots, keep few
- photo enhancement software

None of this involves (necessarily) spending lots of money.

Good suggestion, Ms Russell. Above ideas are good. Feel free to take a few mirror shots. Hold the camera at a 45 degree angle to get the camera out of the pic. And be sure to try a few arms length self-portraits. See avatar. Cover the flash half-way with your finger to reduce white-face cause by excessive flash light. Also you can use your cell phone--many have self-timers. Put the phone in a coffee mug to hold it--stuff in a paper towel to firm it up as needed. Sit it on a table or shelf--crouch down or sit in a chair if you cut your head off. And...most important..show us the results!

Self timer, or better yet and intervalometer are key to getting good pics. An intervalometer takes a picture at intervals, and repeats the specified number of times. so if you set it to 4 seconds, and 100 pictures, it will take a photo every 4 seconds, for 100 pictures in a row. ** most cannon point and shoots that don't have this feature can be modified to add it!!! coolest thing ever! google "cannon chdk"

I've actually got a new post on my blog on my phototips - I used to do this for a living, and have figured out a few things that really help for taking great pics on a budget.
Photo tips blog entry

A tripod is essential, but for out and about, they sell mini ones called "GorillaPods" from Joby These can be wrapped around a railing, or put into all kinds of positions. It weighs like 1 oz, and costs less than $20 for the little one designed for point and shoot cameras!

Hope those help!

Hugs
Kaylee

Kameryn, I have a Fuji S5700 that I do most of my pics on. The technique I use for portraits, is to hold the camera at arms length at various heights. I find looking up into the camera gives a more flattering pic. I use the built in flash, set the ISO to 100/200/400 at around F6. To soften the flash I sometimes put a bit of an old black or natural stocking over it. This camera also has a macro function which is good for portraits as well. Like others have said, it's digital and it is not costing you film, so take loads of pics. Some of them will be rubbish, but you will get some nice ones. Oh and try to smile, I have been picked up for that a few times. My avatar was done this way. Photography is a hobby of mine, so I know a bit about photoshop, and you will never see the lines or bags under my eyes.
Margaret

I don't know if my pics are fabulous or not, but my last "shoot" involved over 100 pics taken by my gf, and some kind of computer photoshop type program.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by docrobbysherry

Whoa! That's NOT ME!:brolleyes:

But, I DO get a good pic now and then! Here's how:

1. Take hundreds, or even thousands, of pics in just seconds! Using a camcorder! And, it works BETTER IF U MOVE AROUND! Pick out the individual frames u like at home!:D
My avatar is a camcorder frame!

2. If u use a 10 second timer, step off to the side after u press the shutter! Then, step back into camera view at the depth u want to take the photo. That way, the camera focuses properly!:thumbsup:

3. I've found strangers to be very accomodating when asked to take my picture. Even when I'm wearing a mask!:eek:

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Point 2 is very important, I use a cheap camera with a 10 second timer and I could never figure out why almost all my pics were so blurry.
It helped when I started doing what Sherry said!
Unfortunately I still suck at taking pics but it`s fun and that`s what matters:)

well i take like 100 pictures to find maybe 10 good ones

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bianca66

A lot of good replies from the gals...

I use a tripod and have a self timer that I can set for 2 pictures. Usually I miss the first shot as you said "10 seconds is not enough". Then I take a look at the pose on the second shot and start over knowing how I need to readjust. Like Niya said take a bunch and one of them has to come out good :)

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That's a pretty good tip. I have a photo studio and shoot part time, and professional models generally can pose on demand. But non-pros tend to anticipate the shot and instantly relax when it goes off, so I shoot them in bursts of 2. If you do this you'll find that the second image is almost always better and shows you relaxed, confident and pretty. The smile is always more natural. Shooting this way will increase the number of photos you get that you will keep.

That, and shooting when you are hanging out with friends and people you feel comfortable with. You always will look relaxed, comfortable and confident.

Get an inexpensive book on photography, or you may be able to find something online. In one of my previous side ventures I took and sold many photographs to newspaper magazines and slick cover mags. It's all about composition and lighting. If I was lucky, I would get two or three stellar photos out of a hundred. Another 15 to 20 would be OK. Research and then practice. Creative portraits are hard. In the field it's hard to pack around and set up your own lighting. Use the natural lighting to your advantage by keeping it behing the person taking the shot. Or find an isolated light source that can create a Rembrandt effect. Good luck!

The color, background and lighting are important, but the ability to pose as a woman is equally important. About 10 years ago, I showed some gg friends some photos. They laughed and stated that they had to show me how to pose without looking like a linebacker. The correct pose is the right body posture, hand position, leg and foot position and most important a big smile. This takes practice.

Jodi

10 second timers do cause a dilemma. However, practice with it enough times, and I feel like anyone can master it.
I figure out how I want to pose then, practice it. I make sure I know exactly what I will do. Then I set the camera timer.
Then hop into position. In most cases, the first time is not always the most successful.
With anything as I have said constantly those that know me, practice makes perfect.

My photos are a combo of me personally taken them or someone who I have met.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by monika

Point 2 is very important, I use a cheap camera with a 10 second timer and I could never figure out why almost all my pics were so blurry.
It helped when I started doing what Sherry said!
Unfortunately I still suck at taking pics but it`s fun and that`s what matters:)

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No you do not SUCK at taken pics! Are you kidding me? You are dreaming :)
Your photo results look incredible.

Vanity!

There are loads of gadgets and gizmo's out there that can be bought quite cheaply. If you have a DSLR that has a USB connector for uploading your pics to a PC try looking for Phottix Cleon. It's a 2 part transmitter/receiver that allows you to take pics to to 300' away (my avatar was taken using it). Add this to a suction cup camera mount and you can use your car as a giant tripod (or should that be quadpod?) OK a bit difficult to get into a shop or restaurant but for those starting out by using less busy places it can be a great help

I brighten the room and record everything, then let the camera software produce stills. I have a Kodak Easyshare somethingorother a General Electric doohickything. On occasion when I'm feeling nostalgic, I'll go for actual snapshots.

I use my Fuji S700. You have to have good lighting and find the angle that best
Captures your face. I also use the self timer. Take 10 pictures maybe keep 2.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by docrobbysherry

2. If u use a 10 second timer, step off to the side after u press the shutter! Then, step back into camera view at the depth u want to take the photo. That way, the camera focuses properly!:thumbsup:

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I fought this one for quite a while until I realized that the camera focuses when the shutter button is pressed, so I have to step off to the side *while* (not after) I press the shutter button. I can hear the autofocus working and then the countdown light starts blinking...

If you really "suck" at taking photos Monika then it's a darn good thing you found someone that can take thier subject matter to the max - cuz your looks dear.. are to dream for.

I've kind of reached a place where I am in a rut with this. I use a tripod and a basic Canon DSLR and use the wireless remote. Again these are all inside shots. I have taken a few outside on my mobile phone with very limited success!

I've reached a point, where I can't seem to get them much better..i.e. they are all looking the same, and I can't seem to improve... so I need to experiment a bit. I tend to photograph when away from home and just using the room's lighting... so no pro lighting I am afraid!

Then it is as everyone else has said.. take a few hundred and maybe one will be a keeper! Though it will need cropping, etc..